Only Eight MLS First Division Clubs will participate in the 2024 US Open Cup
MLS Next Pro teams will also participate
If you thought there would be any hope from Major League Soccer and US Soccer when it comes to all first-division clubs playing in the 2024 US Open Cup, those hopes and dreams are gone. From Michael Batista of Hudson River Blue, we learned that MLS will officially send only eight first-division teams to this year's edition of the tournament. Those clubs are the defending champions, Houston Dynamo, Atlanta United, FC Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, and the Seattle Sounders.
That means the rest of the clubs will send their MLS Next Pro teams to the Open Cup, except DC United, who doesn't have a true two-team, as they use Loudoun United in the USL Championship League with their twenty percent ownership of the club. When discussed on social media and ESPN's Futbol Americas show on ESPN+, co-host Sebastian Salazar wanted to extend an olive branch toward MLS, hoping to save this possible mistake.
Of course, we remember last year in late December, US Soccer originally sent a response to MLS waiver to opt out of the Open Cup for 2024 and replace them with their Next Pro clubs; they said no. All MLS clubs must participate in the Open Cup for the better of the game and to be a part of CONCACAF tournaments. After acting like a lion, US Soccer eventually became a lamb, allowing MLS to have its way again.
Why is US Soccer always going against everyone else when they violate the Professional League Standards, but when MLS does it, they quickly waffle and give up? Now we know why the NASL has that lawsuit going against them. Now we know what US Soccer has become to act like a shield for MLS and allow them to run the sport. US Soccer needs to understand that they will be redundant once MLS has no further need of them down the road.
Allowing Don Garber to be a member of their board of directors and continuing to mock and smear the Open Cup to the American Soccer Media is such a two-faced move; it shows how bad US Soccer can be because while they are still trying to have the tournament, they will do anything and everything to beg MLS to stay, instead of standing firm on their memo back in December of 2023. Once again, why is this happening? Why is there such disdain for this one-hundred-year-old tournament? Because MLS doesn't control it and won't get the revenue for it.
I received this response on Twitter when I posted Michael Batista's latest article on MLS, only sending these eight first-division clubs. "European culture is different from USA. MLS clubs can't build a similar roster as Man City or Man U at the moment. Those two are capable of balancing multiple tourneys better. I personally believe the best teams should compete in USOC, not all."
What does European Culture have to do with MLS not having all their clubs participating in the Open Cup? That is a lazy take from a clueless soccer fan acting like an MLS shill. While I want MLS to be strong and stable, I also want them to stop interfering with the natural order of the game. It should be the leagues concerned with their matters, the football associations running the game at a nationwide level, the regional confederations internationally, and the entire world by FIFA. This is not about European Culture; this has to do with the natural order of how the game has been governed for a very long time.
MLS is trying to be the only game in town, and soon, they will be the only one to govern the entire game away from the US Soccer Federation. I hope Madam President Cindy Parlow-Cone & CEO J.T. Batson are watching this and should understand that they have allowed MLS to get away with this. Even though all of you have protested on social media and you have made signs and banners at your MLS stadiums to save the cup. I'm sorry to say they won't do you any good. These owners won't listen. As mad as you are at Don Garber, he's just the messenger for the owners. All he can do is pass along the message.
The only thing you can do to voice your displeasure is not to attend any Leagues Cup matches from the start of the tournament to the final. Go to the stadium for any MLS Regular Season and MLS Cup Playoff matches. Those are very important, but when late July comes around, show them your displeasure by not attending those games. If you attend US Open Cup games with your side that has their MLS Next Pro team in it, know that it's not their fault. It's the fault of some of the owners who don't care anymore.
I thought US Soccer grew a spine back in December. I thought they finally understood what they should or shouldn't do, but once again, US Soccer caved in and allowed MLS to walk over them again. It was supposed to be growing the game all over the country, but not anymore. It's only for MLS. I wonder how Clark & Dan Hunt are feeling right now? This tournament, since 1999 named after their father, Lamar Hunt, who dedicated himself to Soccer in the United States, and now it gets ripped apart in front of our eyes. It's just a flat-out shame how the Open Cup is loved by everyone and disgusted by the owners of MLS, who don't want to share their big prize with Lionel Messi.
Nice work Daniel!
Incredibly dark day for soccer on this country. I hope Cone and Barton realize that this is their legacy.